About Marie Connery
Contemorary Print maker and Painter
Artist's Statement
Marie's work explores spaces and figuration; the intimacies of her life - the emotional connection to those closest to her.
She uses drawing and photography to gather 'moments' in her life to build and inform the work.
She balances the use architectural spaces, objects and figuration as a metaphor for comfort and security, which can quickly move from security and anxiety to pleasure and pain.
Colour is a predominant element in her paintings, prints and drawings. The depiction of light and space is a vital aspect of the work.
Illusionary forms are created through layers of colour and texture showing an emotional connection.
CV
Marie has a BA (hons) in fine art painting at Wimbledon College of Art in 2006, as a mature student. She studied Art Education and completed a post-graduated with the London Arts Consortium in 2006/7.
Marie began a teaching career in the arts 2007 until 2021, when she decided it was the right time to focus on her art practice.
Currently, she works in her studio at home in Surrey, alongside occasional tutoring at Woldingham School in Surrey, print making workshops and individual tutoring of students to help them with their GSCE and A level examinations.
The schools she has worked in have given her the opportunity to work with many contemporary St. Ives artists, these include Naomi Freers, Jason Lilly, Greg Humphries, and John Howard over the past 14 years.
A highlight for Marie, after leaving her full time teaching career, was being selected for the Artist Support Pledge 'A Generous Space' at the Hastings Contemporary 2021/2022. She was selected out of over 5000 applicants for around 350 places. A great achievement.
Marie has sold her works in local galleries in Cheam and Colliers Wood.
She is a member of Artcan.org, a non-profit making organisation to help and support artists.
Marie regulary takes part in group shows online and in galleries around the country.
Gallery different, Holy Art Gallery, D31 Gallery, Hansard studios, Tebbs Contemporary, Surrey artist open studios, Pink and Poppy Atelier, Art Insania gallery and Residency in David Lloyd Cheam, Surrey.
Career highlights
2021/2022 - Hastings Contemporary group exhibition - Artist Support Pledge
​
​
Joined Artcan.org in 2022 - exhibited in numerous on-line exhibitions and galleries in London.
​
2023 - Royal Academy summer exhibition
2023 - Wells Contemporary group exhibition.
​
​
​
Ways of working
Marie finds joy in drawing. She draws directly from life using her family and friends as inspiration. She also attends life drawing sessions where she gains other inspiration and loves to improve her skills. Marie uses photography and digital media to combine her drawings and photographs to help develop her ideas for printmaking and painting. She works in both oil and watercolour in her prints and paintings. The prints are done in a drawing and painterly style using a silkscreen and glass plate, often layering and combining both elements. The prints and paintings often inspire each process, moving back and forth between the two. Marie uses colour and texture to explore moments in her life, either in the home or the landscape. She has an emotional connection to her work. Memories of past lived experiences of the homes, objects and places she lived in as a child often appear in her work.